Fallin Won't Attend GOP Garvin County Event

A spokesman for Gov. Mary Fallin says the Republican governor will not attend a fundraising event for the Garvin County Republican Party where a flyer says the Ku Klux Klan was to be among the topics of discussion.

The flyer for the Aug. 23 fundraiser says Fallin, who is seeking re-election, was to be the guest speaker. But spokesman Alex Weintz said Wednesday that the first-term governor never committed to appear at the event.

Weintz says Fallin would not attend an event where the KKK was a topic of conversation and that materials advertising the fundraiser were not authorized by the governor or her campaign.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Garvin County GOP, Allie Burgin, says discussion of the KKK was to focus on how the organization targeted Republican abolitionists.

KGOU is a community-supported news organization and relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online, or by contacting our Membership department.

Related Content

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin's re-election campaign has released a new television ad that focuses on her policies of economic growth and opposing federal policies she believes are harmful.

The Republican governor's campaign released the ad — titled "Our Governor" — on Wednesday. The ad will appear on broadcast and cable TV across the state and shows her talking to Oklahomans while highlighting her record.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Dorman's first television ad of the 2014 campaign focuses on public education and accuses Republican incumbent Gov. Mary Fallin of failing Oklahoma's public schools.

The ad was released by Dorman's campaign Tuesday and features the Democratic state representative from Rush Springs speaking in a rural setting. Dorman says he grew up in a small town and relied on public education to work his way up.

He accuses Fallin of flip-flopping on education and says he will provide strong leadership.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is planning a return trip to Oklahoma after a December ice storm forced him to cancel a scheduled appearance with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.

The potential 2016 presidential candidate is expected to join Fallin and several executives with independent oil giant Devon Energy for private fundraiser in Oklahoma City Aug. 20 for the Republican Governors Association. The suggested contribution is $25,000.